Illuminating device for aircraft



s, wlLEY l 1,781,621 ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR AIRQI'IAFT i Filed oct. 11, 1929`4 l ashetsheet 1 Nov. ll

Samwel WzZe H, 1930 s, WILEY 1,781,62

ILLUMINATING DRvcR -RoR AIRCRAFT Filed Oct. 1l, 1929 2 SheetS-Shee 2 Fly. i I F5 f( 9 R1 o E Snventor Swml Wilf'y,

Fatented New, il, i930 PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL WILEY, OF METUCHEN, NEW JERSEYl ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR AIRRAFT Application led October 11, 1929. Serial No. 399,070.

My present invention relates to illuminating devices that will enable aviators to land their planes safely at night; and in my invention, it is intended to provide a method of a launching the illuminating device that is positive in action as well as efficient and safe.

This launching device consists primarily of a container that may be installed vertically `with the lower end iiush with the bottom of l the body of the plane, or at any other place that may be convenient.

The containers may be launched singly or in groups. The flare is housed in the container until it is released therefrom Aat the moment of use; and the container -is so constructed that the Vflare is fully protected from the weather, mud, oil, and, in addition, after its contents are released, it can easily be reloaded.

The flares are preferably released from the cockpit of the plane as in the present practice.

My invention also relates to a parachute Hare that is especially adapted for use with this container. Airplane landing flares covered by my Patents Nos.` 1,683,939, 1,683,940,

1,589,277, andl,589,639, with a slight modification, can also be carried and launched from a container of this type.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings in which like parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, and in which Figure l -is a plan view with the cover removed and shows the flare casing inside,

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view, and shows the lowerspring door of the container with its contents, indicated in dotted lines,

Figure 3 shows a vertical section along the lines 3-3 of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the aiTows,

'Figure 4 is a detail showing the lower end 5 of the container as seen from the left in'Figures l and 3,

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, but shows the opposite side of' the container as seen from the right of Figures l and 3,

Figure 6 is a detail showing the tear strip applied to the upper end of the areand parachute casing,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view'showing on a smaller scale the flare and parachute casing falling out of the bottom of the container, with the parachute in the closed position, and

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the flare in operation supported by the parachute.

A represents a rectangular container preferably in the form of an elongated box, square in cross section, and made of any suitable weather-proof material. This box is provided with a weather-proof cap A fixed thereto and adapted to close the upper end thereof.

v The lower end of the container is provided with oppositely disposed angle irons B and B', the lower` outer edges of which angle irons are supported on the floor C of the bottom ofthe cockpit or other portion ot' the airplane on which the container is mounted. This floor C is cut away as at C0 to permit a clear passage for the falling of the 4flare and parachute connected thereto, as will be hereinafter described.

D, shown in Figures 2 and 3, represents a door having lugs d which abut against corresponding lugs Z) in the angle iron B, and through these lugs d and Z1, the hingepinE passes, ou which the coil spring F is mounted under compression, so that said spring will automatically tend to open the door when it is not held in the closed. position.

The door is preferably rectangular in section so as to close the bottom of the container A except when the door is swung open.

Opposite the hinged side of the door, the door carries a catch G having the finger g engaging the locking pin H, which normally holds the door in the closed position against the action of said spring.

This locking pin passes through eyes in the brackets b` carried by the angle iron B', so that when this pin is removed, the door is free to Hy open under the action of the spring.

For convenience of centering the lare casing, the door may be provided with an upwardly projecting annular rib d0 which engages the corresponding groove in the bottom of the flare casing, as will be hereinafter described.

At two of the oppositely disposed sides, preferably in the corners of the container A, 5 I provide guides I, which are made preferably in the form of U-shaped loops to secure the desired lightness.

These guides I run up to the top ofthe container, but terminate at some distance from l the bottom thereof, as indicated in Figure 3. Below and spaced apart from the lower ends of these guides I are stops J in the form of brackets secured to the container A. While there need only be two of the guides I, I preterably provide four of these stops symmetrically disposed, as shown in Figure 2, for reasons that will be hereinafter described.

K represents the case which is preferably cylindrical, which case contains the Hare and the parachute supporting the saine. At the upper end of this case, I provide a removable cap K, which cap is notched, as at 7c, to permit the cap to pass above the stops J when inserted through the door-way at the bottom of the container.

After the cap K has passed above the stops J, it is turned through a suiicient angle, approximately 45, so that the fiange of the cap K will mask the stops, as shown in Figure 1, and the guides I will engage in oppositely disposed notches of said cap, as shown in said figure.

When in this position, the are casing may be pushed upwards until it reaches the position shown 1n Figure 3 and then the door D being closed, the rib d will engage in the groove co of the bottom K2 of the flare casing, centering same in the. container. The door having been swung to the closed posim tion, and the locking pin H inserted, the flare casing with its contents will be centered and held against rot-ation, and also against vertical movement in the container A. The parachute M is mounted in the upper end of the flare casing above the plug N. This plug may be made wholly or in part of iire clay, or other suitable material, and above this plug, I may provide a disk of fiber or felt N. The upper end of the parachute is connected by the pull out cord L to the loop k2, fast to the cap K; and this cord is made so weak that it will break when the parachute and Hare fall out of the casing as will be hereinafter described.

The stays m of the parachute are connected to the wire O which passes through the tube P by the flare composition Q, and the lower end of this wire is attached to the stop R which carries the ignition wires S passing through the friction primer T, w ich is ,igg)unted beneath the primer disk U at the bttri of the flare. The top of the tube P is bottle necked, as at p, so as to engage the stop R, as will be hereinafter described.

The cap K is preferably mounted loosely over the upper end ofthe Hare and parachute casing; and to prevent it falling off or being accidently knocked od, this cap is normally sealed in place by a tear'strip V, shown in Figure 6, which tear strip is to be torn off before the Hare casing is inserted in the container. f

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming the container to be empty with the door open, and assuming the upper end of the flare casing to be closed by the sealing strip V, tear ott said strip and then insert the upper end of the flare easing in the bottom end of the container, so that the notches k will register with the stops J, then move the Hare casing upwards through a short distance until the flange of the cap K clears the u per edge of these stops, and then rotate the are casing through a. suflicient angle to cause a pair of notches to register wit-h the guides I', then the entire flare casing, with its contents, may be freely moved upwards or towards the upper end of the container A, and the door D may be swung closed and the locking pin H inserted.

It will be noted that the Hare casing and its contents will be securely housed in a Weather-proof container, and when it is desired to operate the flare, all that will be necessary for the operator will be to pull out the locking in H, and the door will spring open, and the are casing will tall by its own weight without any appreciable resistance until the flanged portions ot the cap K strike the stops J. The parts will have fallen a sufiicient distance to acquire suflicient inertia to cause these stops J to push oii' the cap K and open up the top of the parachute chamber of the flare casing. 3

As the cap K remains in the container A, the flare casing, with its contents, will fall past the door, to the position shown in Figure 7, the parachute being drawn out of the casing by the cord L.

As soonas suliicient resistance is thrown on the cord L, it will break. After the cordv L breaks, the parachute will tend to open,

and when the parachute opens, a sudden jerk will be thrown on the wire O, and the wire O will pull the friction wires S upwards, igniting the friction primer T, and the stop R with the wires S attached will pass up in the tube P until the bottle necked portion p of the said tube is reached, when the parts will be in the final position shown in Figure 8, and the parachute will allow the iare to iioat gently downwards, with the flare burning from beneath. n

While I have shown the container in the orm of a rectangular box ot square cross section, it may be tubular, or any preferred form. While I have shown the door as automatically opened by a spring so that it always remains clear of the door-way, a sliding door or a gravity operated door may be used, if desired.

lti-fwill be obvious that various modifications might be made in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts which could be used Without departing from the spirit of my invention; and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details of construction except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States isr- 1. Apparatus for use in launchin,f ,r and operating liares from aircraft, comprising a container open at the bottoni and secured to the lower portion of the aircraft, and mounted above an opening therein, a spring actuated door mounted below said aircraft and adapted to close the lower end of said container, means for locking said door in the closed position. and for releasing saine when desired, and a easing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute nzounted in the upper part of said casing, flare composition and a friction primer mounted in the Alower part of said casing, a plug mounted in said casing and separating said parachute from said flare composition, a removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, a wire connecting the parachute stays with the friction primer, a stop carried by said wire adapted to anchor same to the flare body, and means controlled by the falling of said casing from said container, when the door is opened for automatically removing said cap and holding it in the .container after said casing with its contents have dropped through the open doorway.

2. Apparatus for use in launching and operating flares from aircraft, comprising a container open at the bottom and secured to the lower portion of the aircraft, and mountr ed above an opening therein, a spring actuated door hinged to said aircraft and adapted to close said opening, means for locking said door in the closed position, and for releasing sarre when desired, and a casingslidably mounted in said container, a parachute mounted in the upper part of said casing, are composition and a friction primer mounted in the lower part of said casing,

-and holding it in the container after said when desired, and a casing slidably mounted .Y

in said container, a parachute mounted in the upper part of said casing, are composition and a friction primer mounted in the lower part of said casing, a plug mounted in said casing and separating said parachute from said flare composition, a removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, means for centering said container in said casing, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, a wire connecting the parachute stays with the friction primer, a stop carried by said wire adapted to anchor same to the Hare body, andmeans controlled by the falling of said casing from said container', when the door is opened for automatically removing said cap and holding in the container after said casing with its conf tents have dropped through the open doorway.

4. Apparatus for use in launching and operating iiares from aircraft, comprising a rectangular container open at the bottom'and secured to the lower portion of the aircraft, and mounted above an opening therein, a spring actuated door hinged to said aircraft and adapted to close said opening, means for locking said door in the closed posion, and for releasing same when desired, and a casing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute mounted in the upper part of said casing, are composition and a friction primer mountedin the lower part of said casing, a plug mounted in said casing and separating said parachute from saidiiare composition, a removable flanged cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, means for centering said container in said casing, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, a. wire connecting the parachute stays with the friction primer, a stop carried by said wire adapted to anchor same to the Hare body, and stops adapted to engage the flange of said cap incident to the falling of said casin from said container, when the door is opene for automatically removing said cap and holding it in the container after said casing with its contents have dropped through the open doorway. 5. Apfparatus for use in launching and operating ares from aircraft, comprising a rectangular container open at the bottom and secured to the lower portion of the aircraft,

and mounted above an opening therein, a spring actuated door mounted below said aircraft and adapted to close the lower end of said container, means for locking said door in the closed position, and for releasing same when desired, and a casing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute mounted in the upper part of said casing, flare composition and a friction primer mounted in the lower part of said casing, a plug mounted in said casing and separating said parachute from said flare composition, a removable flanged cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, the flange of said cap being provided with symmetrically disposed notches, guides secured in said container and adapted to engage said notches, and stops projecting into said container, and adapted to pass through said notches and toengage beneath saidflange, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, a wire connecting the parachute stays with the friction primer, a stop carried by said wire adapted to anchor same to the flare body, and means controlled by the falling of said casing from said container, when the door is opened for automatically removing said cap and holding it in the container after said casing With its contents have dropped through the open doorway.

6. Apparatus for use in launching'and operating flares from aircraft, comprising a container open at the bottom and mounted above an opening in the aircraft, a door atvtached to said aircraft and adapted to close said opening, means for locking said door in' the closed position, and for releasing same when desired, a casing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute and a flare mounted in said casing, a removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, and means controlled by the falling of said casing from said container, when the door is opened for automatically removing said cap and holding it in the container' after said casing with its contents have dropped through the open doorway, whereby said cord first pulls said parachute from said casing, and then breaks, permitting said parachute to open, as said casing descends.

7. Apparatus for use in launching and operating flares from aircraft, comprising a container open at the bott-om and mounted above an opening therein, a spring actuated door hinged to said aircraft and adapted to close said opening, means for locking said door in the closed position, and for releasing saine when desired, and a casing slidably mounted in said container, a. parachute and a flare mounted in said casing, a flanged removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, and stops projecting into said container and'adapted to engage said flanged cap, automatically removing said cap and holding it in the container after said casing with its contents have dropped through the open doorway.

8., Apparatus for use in launching and operating flares from aircraft, comprising a container open at the bottom, a door adapted to close sai'd open bottom, means for locking said door in the closed position, and for releasing same when desired, a casing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute and a flare mounted in said casing, a removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, a breakable ncord connecting said cap with the parachute, and means controlled by the falling of said casing from said container, when the door is opened for automatically removing said cap and holding it in the container' after said casing with its contents have dropped through lthe open bottom, whereby said cord first pulls said parachute from said casing, and then breaks, permitting said parachute to open, as said casing descends.

9. Apparatus for use in launching and operating ilares from aircraft, comprising a container open at the bottom, a door adapted to close said open bottom, means for locking said door in the closed position, and for releasing same When desired, and a casing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute and a flare mounted in said casing, a flanged removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, and stops projecting into said container and adapted to engage said flanged cap, autovmatically removing said cap and holding it in the container after said casing with its contents have dropped through the open doorway.

10. Apparatus for use in launching and operating flares from aircraft, comprising a container open at the bottom, a door adapted to close said open bottom, means for ylocking said door in the closed position, and for releasing same when desired, a casing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute and a flare mounted in said casing, a removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, means for centering said casing in said container, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the-parachute, and means controlled by the falling of said casing from said container, when the door is opened for automatically removing said cap and holding it in the container after said casing with its contents have dropped through the open bottom, whereby said cord first pulls said parachute from said casing, and then breaks, permitting said parachute to open, as said cas ing descends.

ll. Apparatus for use in launching and operating flares from aircraft, comprising a container open at-the bottom, a door adapted to close said open bottom, means for lockin? said door in the closed position, and for re easing same when desired, and a casing slidably mounted in said container, a parachute and a are mounted in said casing, a

flanged removable cap normally closing the upper end of said casing, means for centering said casing in said container, a breakable cord connecting said cap with the parachute, and stops projecting into said container and Vadapte to engage said anged cap, automatically removing said cfp and ho ding it in the container after sai casing with its contents have dropped through the open doorway. Y

SAMUEL WILEY.A 

